ROLE SUMMARY
The Packing Manager plays a key role in overseeing the efficient and effective operation of the packing department, ensuring products are packed accurately, safely, and in line with quality and customer requirements. This position is responsible for managing packing teams, coordinating daily packing activities, monitoring productivity and performance, maintaining health and safety standards, and ensuring compliance with operational procedures. The role supports continuous improvement initiatives, stock control accuracy, and the timely delivery of products, while driving high standards of quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction across the packing operation.
Key Accountabilities
- Ensure all finished products are packed accurately, safely, and efficiently to meet customer, quality, and food safety requirements.
- Deliver daily packing plans in line with production schedules and customer orders.
- Lead, develop, and motivate the packing team to achieve operational, quality, and performance targets.
- Maintain compliance with food safety, quality, health and safety, and company standards.
- Optimise packing processes to improve productivity, reduce waste, and control costs.
- Ensure the availability and effective use of packing materials, equipment, and labour resources.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives across the packing operation.
- Drive operational excellence through performance monitoring, reporting, and corrective action.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Management
- Plan, organise, and oversee all packing activities to ensure production targets and customer requirements are achieved.
- Coordinate daily packing schedules with Production, Planning, and Warehouse teams.
- Monitor packing line performance and take corrective action to minimise downtime and inefficiencies.
- Ensure products are packed, labelled, coded, and palletised correctly according to specifications.
Team Leadership
- Lead, supervise, and develop Packing Team Leaders and Packing Operatives.
- Manage team performance through regular communication, coaching, training, and development.
- Conduct performance reviews and support employee development plans.
- Manage attendance, absence, disciplinary, and grievance matters in conjunction with HR.
Quality and Food Safety
- Ensure compliance with all food safety, HACCP, GMP, hygiene, allergen control, and quality requirements.
- Investigate and resolve packing-related quality issues and customer complaints.
- Support internal and external audits and implement corrective actions where required.
- Promote a culture of quality and right-first-time performance.
Health, Safety and Compliance
- Ensure all packing activities are conducted in accordance with health and safety policies and procedures.
- Conduct risk assessments, safety inspections, and accident investigations as required.
- Promote safe working practices and ensure all employees receive appropriate training.
- Ensure compliance with relevant legal, regulatory, and customer standards.
Resource and Materials Management
- Monitor packing material usage and minimise waste.
- Manage labour resources effectively to meet operational requirements while controlling costs.
Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve packaging processes, efficiency, quality, and cost performance.
- Implement Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives where appropriate.
- Monitor and report key performance indicators (KPIs) such as productivity, labour efficiency, waste, customer complaints, and line downtime.
- Lead improvement projects to enhance operational performance and customer service.
Communication and Stakeholder Management
- Liaise with Production, Planning, Warehouse, Quality, Engineering teams to ensure smooth operational flow.
- Provide regular performance updates and reports to senior management.
- Build positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support business objectives.
Typical KPIs
- On-time order fulfilment
- Packing productivity and efficiency
- Labour utilisation
- Packing material waste
- Customer complaints
- Quality and food safety compliance
- Health and safety performance
- Equipment downtime
- Staff turnover and absence levels
QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, TECHNICAL SKILLS / KNOWLEDGE
The Packaging Manager should have proven experience in a food manufacturing or FMCG environment, with a strong track record of leading packing operations and managing teams to achieve productivity, quality, and service objectives. The role requires a solid understanding of food safety, hygiene, HACCP, GMP, and health and safety requirements, alongside experience in performance management, resource planning, and continuous improvement. The successful candidate will possess strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to analyse operational data and drive efficiencies. A recognised qualification in food manufacturing, operations management, or a related field is desirable, together with experience of manufacturing systems, packing processes, and Lean improvement methodologies.
Pay: £45,000.00-£50,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
